Looking ahead to 2026, industry commentators have kicked off the year with some contrarian market calls that are worth unpacking.

Their end-of-year forecast breaks down into three key takes: First, memecoin rally cycles are likely spent—don't expect a repeat of recent hype runs. Second, the ongoing altcoin bear market isn't ready to reverse course anytime soon. Third, shorting opportunities in crypto remain compelling given current market dynamics.

These aren't casual predictions. They reflect a conviction that retail-driven speculation has cooled while macro headwinds continue weighing on smaller cap tokens. Whether the altcoin thesis holds through Q2 will be closely watched by traders positioning for potential pivot points.